Posted: March 12th, 2023
In this assignment, you are to use the same corporation you selected for the assignments in Weeks 3 and 6. You will examine business and corporate-level strategies and their impact on corporate success comparable to the competitive environment.Use any or all of the following resources to conduct research on the corporation:
(Note: It is expected that you will also use your course textbook to complete the assignment.)
Refer to the following documents for this assignment:
Refer back to the Week 1 and 2 assignment templates as a sample if needed.Write a 6-8 page academic research paper in which you include the following:* Note: The title page and source list are in addition to the 6-8 page requirement
Based on your analysis, conclude which corporation is most likely to be successful in the long term. Support your determination with at least three pieces of evidence.
For help with research, writing, and citation, access the library or review library guides.
Student’s Full Name
BUS499 Business Administration Capstone
Professor’s Name
Date
Template Instructions (delete this page before submitting)
This template is provided to help you meet the assignment requirements. This page should NOT be submitted with your assignment, as it is not part of an academically written paper. Note the “Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements” section of the grading rubric.
HOW TO USE THIS TEMPLATE
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Read the explanations provided in the template for each section of your paper.
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The explanations are in blue font on the pages that follow.
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You should have already read the assignment instructions in Blackboard.
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Type your response to each assignment requirement within the designated sections.
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Each assignment requirement is identified using a section heading that is in bold and black font.
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DO NOT add extra spaces between sections.
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DO NOT change the margins.
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You are required to have a heading for each section in your paper.
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The required headings have been provided for you (in bold and black font).
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DO NOT delete, alter, or add anything to the section headings.
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DO NOT type the assignment instructions into the sections.
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After typing your responses, change the font color from blue to black and ensure your content is not in bold.
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Be sure to change the font color from blue to black on the title page after typing your name, professor’s name, and date.
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Everything in blue font on the following pages should be deleted and replaced with your responses in black.
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DELETE this
entire page before you submit your assignment to avoid losing points.
REMINDERS
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The assignment is due in week 8.
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Use the same public corporation you used for assignments 1 and 2.
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Do not copy content from previous assignments in this class or others.
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Include at least six (6) full and complete academically written pages that address the requirements. The title page, this instruction page, and the source page do not count.
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Use at least three (3) quality sources, one of which MUST be the course textbook.
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Strayer uses SafeAssign – an automated plagiarism checker. You must use your own words and external resources (with in-text citations) to support what you have written in your own words.
Week 8 – Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies
Write your introduction here. Include one (1) paragraph (
not more than six [6] lines of text) that explains what your paper will discuss. Most of your introduction may be taken from the assignment instructions (in your own words). Read all assignment resources to understand what should be included in your paper. Review the
assignment instructions in Blackboard, the grading rubric, and the recorded writing workshop to understand the requirements. Do not exceed six (6) lines of text in this introduction. There should be no direct quotes in this section. After reading these instructions, replace this blue text with your introduction and change the font color to black.
Business-Level Strategies
Analyze the business-level strategies for the corporation you chose to determine the business-level strategy you think is most important to the firm’s long-term success. You will also need to determine whether or not you judge this to be a good choice (Note: in this step, you need to choose and write about
only one (1) business-level strategy from the textbook (not Google).
Hint: See Figure 4.1 in the textbook. Include a thorough justification for your choice backed by facts and sound judgment. For background, be sure to research and explain the industry in which your selected corporation operates. You could also briefly (in 1 – 2 sentences) define the business-level strategy (cite your sources) you are writing about using chapter 4 in the textbook and” Learn” as an introduction to your analysis. Read chapter 4 in the course textbook.
Review the Week 4 Readings under “Learn” in Blackboard for supporting content. Your response here should demonstrate that you understand the key concepts regarding the selected business-level strategy and can apply them to a real-world corporation. Keep in mind that this is a
6-page paper; your analysis should thoroughly address the concepts discussed in the course. Avoid unsubstantiated statements, extended introductory commentary, direct quotes, and unrelated content. Strive for about 1 ½ – 2 pages of well-constructed, in-depth analysis in this section.
In this section, you could research and identify the core competencies your chosen firm uses to implement its business-level strategies and discuss their effectiveness. You could also demonstrate from your research how the firm uses its core competencies to create and sell its products or services in the marketplace. Consider the actions & choices your firm has made to compete in individual product markets. Review Chapters 4-9 for specifics on business-level strategies. Your response should clearly identify the one business-level strategy from the textbook that you think is most important to the corporation’s long-term success. Your response must also include a clearly stated and justified judgment on whether that strategy is a good choice. Include enough content and depth to demonstrate a thorough analysis of your selected corporation’s business-level strategy. Remember that this is a 6-page paper, so you will need to dig deep. After reading these instructions, replace this blue text with your analysis and change the font color to black.
Corporate-Level Strategies
Analyze the corporate-level strategies for the corporation you chose to determine the one you think is most important to the firm’s long-term success. You will also need to decide whether or not you judge this to be a good choice. (Note: in this step, you need to choose and write about
only one (1) corporate-level strategy from the textbook (not Google).
Hint: See chapter 6 in the textbook. Include a thorough justification for your choice backed by facts and sound judgment. You could also briefly (in 1 – 2 sentences) define the corporate-level strategy (cite your sources) you are writing about using the textbook.
Review the Week 5 Readings under “Learn” in Blackboard for supporting content. Your response here should demonstrate that you understand the key concepts regarding the selected corporate-level strategy and can apply them to a real-world corporation. Keep in mind that this is a 6-page paper; your analysis should thoroughly address the concepts discussed in the course. Avoid unsubstantiated statements, extended introductory commentary, direct quotes, and unrelated content. Strive for about 1 ½ – 2 pages of well-constructed, in-depth analysis in this section.
Your response should clearly identify the one corporate-level strategy from the textbook that you think is most important to the corporation’s long-term success. Your response must also include a clearly stated and justified judgment on whether that strategy is a good choice. Include enough content and depth to demonstrate a thorough analysis of your selected corporation’s corporate-level strategy. Remember that this is a 6-page paper, so you will need to dig deep. After reading these instructions, replace this blue text with your analysis and change the font color to black.
Competitive Environment Analysis
Analyze the competitive environment to determine the corporation’s most significant competitor (this will require research outside the course material). Compare their strategies at the business and corporate levels. Hint: read chapters 1 – 10 in the course textbook, as they provide a solid background for this section. Review the Week 1 – 8 Readings under “Learn” in Blackboard for supporting content. Remember that this is a 6-page paper and requires a thorough competitive analysis. Strive for about 1 ½ – 2 pages of well-constructed, in-depth analysis in this section. Cite your sources and avoid the use of direct quotes. After reading these instructions, replace this blue text with your analysis and change the font color to black.
Competitive Environment Conclusion
Based on your analysis, conclude which corporation is most likely to be successful in the long term and support your conclusion with at least three pieces of specific evidence. Be sure to consider the business-level and corporate-level strategies for both corporations. Remember that this is a 6-page paper and requires a thorough competitive analysis. Strive for about 1 ½ – 2 pages of well-constructed, in-depth analysis in this section. Use the textbook and other credible resources. Cite your sources and avoid the use of direct quotes. After reading these instructions, replace this blue text with your conclusion and change the font color to black.
Market Cycles
Determine whether your choice from Requirement 4 (Competitive Environment Conclusion, above) would differ in slow-cycle and fast-cycle markets. Support your position with specific evidence. It would be a good idea to briefly explain the slow-cycle and fast-cycle markets from the textbook (cite your sources) as a short introduction to your determination.
Hint: read Chapter 5 in the course textbook. Remember that this is a 6-page paper; therefore, each section requires a thorough response demonstrating your understanding of the course’s key concepts and your ability to apply them to a real-world corporation. Cite your sources and avoid the use of direct quotes. After reading these instructions, replace this blue text with your response and change the font color to black.
Sources
1. Michael A. Hitt. 2020. Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization. 13th ed. Cengage Learning.
2. Author. Publication Date. Title. Page # (written as p. #). How to Find (e.g., web address)
3. Author. Publication Date. Title. Page # (written as p. #). How to Find (e.g., web address)
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External and Internal Environments
Tyrell Wilson
BUS499 Business Administration Capstone
Dr. Brian C. Grizzell
February 13,2023
External and Internal Environments
The discussion in this paper will majorly focus on Apple company. Factors that influence the company from within. As well as the aspects that impact the company from the outside. These factors can impact the company’s performance. The most significant forces of competition for Apple will be evaluated, as well as providing predictions on how the company could improve its potential in addressing the forces. To comprehend the company attributes that influence daily operations and productivity, the most significant threats and opportunities, and the best approach to maximize Apple’s strengths and minimize its weaknesses.
General Environment
The general environment is also termed the macro-environment; it refers to the aspects that impact the performance and productivity of the company; these factors are beyond the company’s capacity to control. This section is going to discuss two segments that influence Apple company. The most significant segments are technology and social factors. These factors dictate whether the company encounters opportunities or limitations in the market.
Technology factors
External technological factors in Apple’s macro-environment provide opportunities for the company overall. Among the most important technical aspects to consider when evaluating various technological factors based on their impact on business conditions are: Adoption of cloud-based computing is increasing. Rising mobile market and advancing technological incorporation in enterprises. Other companies’ technological abilities are expanding.
The mobile market expansion offers Apple a chance to increase earnings.
However, the technological advancement of other businesses poses a risk to the organization since more fresh competitors could enter the market (Qiu, 2023). To achieve Apple Inc.’s aims and goals, it is essential to enhance business competencies so that the company may seize chances and protect itself from risks from rivals. Expanding the cloud platform can optimize the company’s revenue by providing cloud-computing services utilizing this potential and Apple’s support. Therefore, the chance to grow the firm by offering its technological products and solutions accessible to more consumers, particularly organizations, is presented by the external policy component of extending technology integration.
Social factors
This element draws attention to the socio-cultural and environmental aspects that affect customer anticipations and habits. In the case of Apple, several socio-cultural tendencies are essential in the global or macroenvironment: escalating use of mobile devices. Rising reliance on digital technologies.
The increased prevalence of mobile access presents a potential business opportunity for Apple Inc. This outside factor is tied to the growing desire for smartphones and tablets. The increasing reliance on digital technologies is a further sociocultural development that presents Apple with the potential to enhance sales of its products due to rising demand (Zeng, 2021). The company must deal with social criticism of its commercial methods in addition to these opportunities. These opinions can harm the company’s technology products’ reputation and customer confidence. These sociocultural aspects emphasize the significance of Apple Inc.’s CSR strategy. Clients, authorities, and other parties are satisfied with such an approach.
Five Forces of Competition
Forces in the competition refer to various factors that hinder a company’s profitability, which corresponds to slow growth and expansion of the companies in the industry. These factors are majorly categorized into two diverse classes. This section is going to analyze two forces among the five forces that are most significant to Apple company.
Competitive rivalry
Competitive rivalry determines the power of competing businesses and how they will ultimately affect one another. Companies like Google and Dell are Apple’s key competitors. As a result, the technology sector is subject to intense rivalry. The fierce rivalry among these companies is the cause of the industry’s intense competition. Since the items these companies offer are comparable, affordable shifting expenses make it easy for consumers to shift to other companies. Therefore, these outside variables combined make Apple’s competitive rivalry fierce. For Apple, it is crucial to innovate and consistently provide distinctive goods for its devoted consumers.
Apple also has a competitive edge thanks to how its products are made. The business has always prioritized giving customers experiences rather than just products. Each Apple product is designed to offer a better user experience than its rivals.
Bargaining power of buyers
This force illustrates how customers’ purchasing choices may affect the company. Owing to Apple’s situation, where there are limited individual customers, minimal shifting expenses, easy access to information, and excellent consumer devotion, consumers have a medium to a substantial degree of bargaining power. Apple offers its merchandise to many clients, which weakens the buyers individually (Chen et al., 2021). Consequently, buyers as a whole have significant bargaining power. Consumers can swap brands more easily thanks to lower shifting expenses, which gives consumers the power to pressure Apple and other rival firms. Data availability has made it simple for consumers to compare the products of competing businesses, making switching brands simple.
Future improvements
Enhancing the generic approach in broad differentiation can help Apple overcome its rivals’ competitive battle. This overarching strategy emphasizes crucial traits that distinguish the company’s modern tech offerings from those of competitors. Apple’s primary strategy of broad differentiation helps them stand out from the competition in the market.
Apple invests many resources in Research and development to produce exceptional, cutting-edge products to solve these problems and encourage customer loyalty.
Greatest External Threat
Increasing competition
Competitor threats for Apple range from supply chain disruptions to new companies being formed. Given that the competitors provide products similar to Apple’s product or offer.
Even though its brand is more well-known, Apple always faces risks from competitors. Firms like Samsung and Dell are competing with Apple in the technological sector. As a consequence, the technology sector is subject to intense rivalry. These big businesses, like Apple, have a ton of investing money. The best option for Apple to stay ahead of its rivals as competition heats up is to develop unique and efficient technologies and revise the prices to accommodate consumers across social classes.
Greatest Opportunity
Constant customer growth
Apple has controlled the technology sector for many years. They provide first-rate solutions and innovative technologies to enhance customer satisfaction. Their consumer retention rate of 92 percent is astounding. There will constantly be opportunities for Apple to find new customers and establish new business relationships because of the influence of the internet. Due to its significant client expansion, the company currently has the opportunity to increase sales volumes through vigorous marketing, especially for mobile products.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Apple’s internal elements, unique to the conditions within the business structure and its technical capacity, allow it to combat shortcomings, seize advantages, and endure challenges in its corporate technological environment (Van De Vliert, 2021). In this instance, Apple Inc.’s most prominent advantages were its excellent brand recognition as one of the most valuable in the world, its large profit margins due to expensive charging, and its efficient, swift creative procedures relying on a long record of technological advancement. Apple needs to improve technology, product growth, and marketing. The three most significant limitations of the Apple corporation are its reliance on sales in high-end market sectors, its restricted delivery channel, and its premium selling costs.
Strategy
By employing these abilities, the company can benefit from opportunities like expanding its customer products supply chain. The company may also successfully develop and launch new and distinctive tech solutions by leveraging its strong brand reputation and speedy, creative processes. Maintain the company’s quick-thinking, competitive approach to product development. Technological advancement has lessened the negative impacts of copying (Podolny & Hansen, 2020). It is also suggested that Apple boost production procedure automation and support contract manufacturers’ automation to counter rising labor costs. More stores should be associated to expand the market presence for the firm’s consumer electronics products.
Resources, Capabilities, and Core Competencies
As an international technology behemoth, Apple has access to resources such as patents, staff, a leadership staff, a well-known brand name, a devoted consumer base, and a solid economic and technical basis. The capacity of a company to adapt to the quickly changing business environment through the integration, development, and reconfiguration of internal and external competencies is one of Apple’s capabilities. Apple’s main fundamental competency is innovation. A few examples of the innovative and unique products they have produced in the past include the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.
Sources
Chen, X., Liu, Y., & Gong, H. (2021). Apple Inc. Strategic Marketing Analysis and Evaluation. In
2021 3rd International Conference on Economic Management and Cultural Industry (ICEMCI 2021) (pp. 3053–3061). Atlantis Press.
10.2991/assehr.k.211209.499
Podolny, J. M., & Hansen, M. T. (2020). How Apple is organized for innovation.
Harvard Business Review,
98(6), 86-95. Retrieved from: https://empowerment.ee/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/How-Apple-Is-Organized-for-Innovation
Qiu, H. (2023). Analysis of Apple Inc’s Business Model Based on the SWOT Model and Financial Ratios. doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-098-5
Van De Vliert, D. (2021). Apple iPhone: a market case study.
MacEwan University Student eJournal,
5(1).
https://doi.org/10.31542/muse.v5i1.2010
Zeng, L. (2021). An Analysis of Apple’s Internationalization Strategy.
International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology,
3(17). DOI: 10.25236/IJFS.2021.031716
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